little child shall lead them Such shall bee the power of the Gospell that those which are by nature like Wolves and devouring beasts shall dwell very peaceably and if wee find our nature such we must apply the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe Micah 7.19 He will subdue our iniquities and will cast all our sinnes into the depth of the sea that which is cast into the Sea as it appeareth not in sight so wee cannot get it againe though wee would so will God doe by your sinnes cast them out of his sight so as wee shall not returne to them any more presse him with his promise and you shall find more then you thinke THE X. LEGACY If thou be in bondage to some sin VVHen thou feelest thy selfe in bondage to some sinne apply Iohn 8.32 You shall know the Truth and the truth shall make you free Rom. 6.14 Sinne shall not have dominion you When thou feelest thy bondage that thou canst not doe good or keep thy selfe from evill apply The truth shall make you free If thy sinnes often prevaile against thee apply Sinne shall not have dominion over you Psal 130.8 He shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities THE XI LEGACY If thou fearest the breaking out of strong sinnes VVHen thou feelest some sinne so strong in thee that thou fearest it will breake out to Gods dishonour and the blemishing of Religion apply 1. Thess 5.23.24 That your whole spirit soule and body may be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Faithfull is he that calleth you who also will doe it That God which hath called thee will keep thee blamelesse unto the comming of Christ therefore use the meanes and rest upon the Lords faithfulnesse which never faileth them which trust in him 2. Thes 3.3 But the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you and keepe you from evill 1. Ioh. 1.9 If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse By cleansing as I thinke is meant not onely from the guilt of sinne but the the power of it that the filthinesse of it shall not appeare in our lives and conversations When sinne pursues thee hard to make thee fall doe thou pursue the Lord with prayers for performance of this promise and doubt not of the issue Micah 7.19 Hee will subdue our iniquities And to these adde the prayer of Christ Iohn 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keepe them from the evill Now what greater evill than sinne therefore though thy prayers bee but weake against it yet hee hath prayed that was alway heard therefore fight and be sure of victory THE XII LEGACY When thou art stayed from sinne by admonition WHen thou art stayed from sinne by admonition appy Ezek. 3.21 If thou warne the righteous man that the righteous sinne not and he doth not sin he shall surely live because he is warned When any admonish thee obey and it shall bee life to thy soule therefore receive the admonition and apply He shall live because he is admonished THE XIII LEGACY If thou fearest God will destroy thee for sin IF thou fearest God will destroy thee for thy sinnes apply Ezek. 18.30 Turne your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Matth. 1.21 He shall save his people from their sinnes When thou fearest the greatnesse or multitude of thy sinnes will bee thy destruction apply Iniquity shall not be your ruine When thou seest no meanes of safety apply He that is Christ shall save his people from their sinnes THE XIV LEGACY If thou be tempted to uncleannes IF thou be tempted to uncleannesse apply Prov. 2.16 Hee shall deliver thee from the strange woman 1. Thes 5.24 Thy body shall bee kept blamelesse untill the comming of Christ THE XV. LEGACY If thou canst not find out thy sin for which God corrects thee IF thou canst not find out thy sinne for which God correcteth thee apply Iob. 39.9 If they bee tyed with the cords of affliction then will I shew them their worke and their sins A wise Father will not correct his child but hee will shew him wherefore how else should hee amend his fault much more will the Lord. But we enjoy not many promises because we sue not for them Thus farre about Sin the next about Grace THE XVI LEGACY If thou doubt of salvation In doubt of salvation apply God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 3.16 Iohn 5.24 Hee that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Iohn 8.51 If any many keepe my saying he shall never see death Iohn 11.25 Hee that believeth in me though hee were dead yet shall hee live And whosoever believeth in mee shall never see death If thou doubt that thou shalt perish and not be saved apply Hee that believes in Christ shall not perish but shall have everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation Labour to believe these Promises for that is required of thee for the obtaining of what is promised THE XVII LEGACY If thine heart bee as a wildernesse barren of good WHen thou findest thine heart as a wildernesse barren of good apply Esai 35.1 2. The wildernesse and the solitary place shall bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as the Rose It shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing This promise is made to the Church and every member of it may apply it to themselves therefore when thou feelest thine heart as a desart wildernesse and wast ground void of good full of bryers and thornes of sinne then know thou shalt not only bring forth sweet smelling graces like Roses but also all abundance of them Pro. 11.28 The righteous shal flourish as a branch Prov. 13.4 The soule of the diligent shall be made fat Hos 14.5.6 I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots like Lebanon His branches shall spread his beauty shall be as the Olive tree his smell as Lebanon When wee want meanes to make us fruitfull apply The Lord will be a dew to Israel When wee desire to flourish and grow vp in grace apply He shall grow as the Lilly his branches shall spread If thou wouldest shine forth in the beauty of holynes apply His beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and as the Lillies whose glory is greater then Solomons in all his Royalty If thou wouldest have thy graces send forth a sweet smell apply His smell shall be as Lebanon If thou fearest the continuance of this estate apply He shal fasten his roots as ahe trees of Lebanon It matters not how great our barrennesse be when God will
hinder not thy selfe by unbeliefe THE LIV. LEGACY When thou art to goe to the assemblies WHen thou art to goe to the assemblies to participate in the ordinances apply In places where I record my name I will come to thee and blesse thee If thou wantest the Lord or his blessing goe to his house and thou shalt find him Psalme 36.8 9. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thine house and thou shalt make them drinke of the river of thy pleasures For with thee is the fountaine of life and in thy light shall we see light Ps 65.4 We shall be satisfied with the geodnesse of thy house even of thine holy Temple Psalme 83.11 The Lord God is a Sun and shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold Psalme 92.13.14 Those that he planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in their old age they shall bee fat and flourishing Psalme 128.5 The Lord shall blesse thee out of Sion Isai 25.6 7 8. In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Therefore when his ordinances are corrupted with mens inventions then thou maist presse him with this promise that he will give us wine fined and purified even his purest ordinances and most comfortable to our hearts as wine is And when there is litle nourishment because their gifts are weake urge him with this that he hath promised to make us a feast of fat things full of marrow for I take this promise to be meant of the Churches after Christ vers 7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the the vaile that is spread over all nations Thy sins that are too strong for thee bring them to the Lord in his ordinances and he will destroy them though thou seeme to be covered with them and they spread as a vaile upon thee yet believe his promises and all things shall be possible unto thee Isai 57.7 I will make them joyfull in mine house of prayer their sacrifices shal be accepted at mine Altar God will both give to them and accept from their sacrifices as pleasing to him 2. Chro. 20.20 Believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper Prov. 1.5 A wise man will heare and will encrease learning and a man of understanding shall attaine unto wise counsels Prov. 4.10.12 Heare and receive my sayings and the yeares of thy life shall be many when thou goest thy steps shall not be strait and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble Mark 4.24 Vnto you that have shall more be given Isai 55.3.11 12. Incline your eares and come unto me heare and your soules shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David My words shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it Therefore ye shall goe forth with joy and be led forth with peace the mountaines and the hils shall bread forth before you into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands vers 13. Instead of the thorne shall come up the Firre tree and instead of the bryer shall come up the Mirtle tree this force shall the word have in thine heart for planting of Grace and destroying of sinne Hos 14.7 They that dwell under his shadow shall returne they shall revive as the corne and grow as the vine the sent thereof shall be as the vine in Lebanon If thou wouldst returne apply this he shall returne If thou beest decayed apply this They shall revive as the corne If thou wouldest flourish in grace apply They shall flourish as the Vine If thou wouldest bee a sweet smelling savour in all places apply The sent thereof shall be as the Vine of Lebanon Seeing all these good things come from the powerfull ordinances of the Lord let us give him no rest till he bestow these blessings upon us when the Pastour of the people pronounceth the blessing apply this promise Num. 6.27 I will blesse thee THE LV. LEGACY Wouldest thou enjoy the ordinances of God and a blessing upon them WOuldest thou enjoy the ordinances of God and a blessing upon them apply Ier. 31.14 I will satiate the soules of the Priests with fatnesse and my people shall be satisfied with goodnesse Ier. 3.15 I will give you Pastours according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Ezek. 34.26 27. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing and I will cause the showre to come downe in his season there shall bee showers of blessing And the tree of the field shall yield her encrease and the earth shall yield her fruit The promises are both for Pastor and people the Pastor shall be able to teach with knowledge and understanding his soule shall bee replenished with fatnesse his teaching shall bee as seasonable showres of blessing that shall make the people fruitfull The people must apply these promises first that God would give them able Teachers and that they may find their ministery blessed unto them according to these promises That they may bee fed with knowledge and understanding that they may bee satisfied with goodnesse and that their teaching may bee seasonable showers of blessing to make them fruitfull as it is promised that the trees shall yield their fruit How much are Gods ordinances to be desired by which he doth convey so many blessings unto his people Let us give him no rest till he furnish Ierusalem with all her ordinances and officers THE LVI LEGACY Jf thou enjoyest grace or meanes of Grace IF thou enjoyest glorious graces or meanes of grace and fearest the loosing of them apply Isai 4.5.6 Vpon all the glory shall be a defence And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storme and from raine Isai 27.3 I the Lord doe keep it I will water it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day Isai 33.16 His place of defence shall be the munition of Rockes bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Hast thou any glorious grace or meanes of grace Arme thy selfe with the power of God in his promises for the Devill will ue all his fores and subtilty to deprive thee of them hast thou a glorious Minister and pure ordinance or glorious graces beginne to spring in thine heart and seest no meanes to defend them apply Vpon all thy glory he shall be a defence His defence shall bee a munition of Rockes Seest thou an heart of sinne in thy self or the rage of the wicked that causeth thee to feare the losse of them apply There
freedome better things propounded and promised which Believers doe for the present in some measure enjoy and shall have a most certaine and full possession of afterwards Wantest thou Grace comfort deliverance blessing or any good thing Behold here thou maist have them to the great joy of thine heart and content of thy Spirit Set faith a work to draw out what thou wantest and thou shalt have it Sucke these sweet and heavenly breasts of God by the mouth of thy faith open these pipes and veines of the promises which runne so full of mercy grace truth comfort joy and peace for every Believer by faith and thou shalt bee satiate with every good thing Lest I should make too great a porch for this little house and too great gates for this little Citty I will conclude with an exhortation to all my beloved brethren and sisters which are Believers to perfect their faith by application of the promises both of these in this sweet little Book and of all others contained in the Old and New Testament Suffer not Gods promises as J may so say to milke themselves doe you draw them let not good rest with God which you may have by believing and begging to your great comfort and enriching but take Gods commodities off his hand trade with that wealthy Merchant in the farre Countrey the Lord Iesus in heaven for his rich commodities of graces and comforts and glorious hopes untill you be rich and wealthy and for this purpose cause those two good factours Faith and Prayer founded upon and quickned and confirmed by the pretious promises alway to trade for you in heaven untill you come thither your selves I would desire all Believers to make this their pocket booke that it may sollicite and woe them to prayer make solid and firme their faith increase their graces comforts and heavenly hopes prepare them for enduring the stormes of trouble and tempests of temptations and may encourage them in holy well-doing and Christian perseverance unto the end Heb. 6.12 Now brethren my hearts desire is that ye be not slothfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises That you may be inheritours of them it shall bee my daily prayer unto the Lord my God to bestow upon your hearts to use all good meanes for the attaining of the good in these and other promises of God unto his people That he would teach and enable you to meditate upon them diligently day and night to believe them firmely to apply them severally particularly personally to sue for them earnestly by prayer constant and fervent to waite for their promised accomplishment by patience that so you may enjoy the good of them here and hereafter which God in mercy grant unto me and also you AMEN To the Reader MAN which at the beginning was created happy Gen. 1.26 Ephes 2.10 having now lost God and his Image is of all earthly creatures become most miserable no lesse then a slave of the Devill a child of wrath an heire of eternall damnation Eph. 2.2 3. This is not the estate of a few onely but of all mankind out of Christ for we are all by nature under the curse 2. Cor. 4.4 Rom. 5.19 Gal. 3.10 The best before their conversion were by nature children of wrath even as others Eph. 2.3 Rom. 5.12 for every womans child did fall equally in Adam hence it comes to passe that no man by nature is now in better esteem with God then other Cain and Abel as children of the first Adam onely were equally miserable the like may bee said of us all for both Iewes and Gentiles are come under sin Rom. 3.9 And as the Psalmist saith We all are gone out of the way we are altogether become filthy there is none righteous no not one Psal 14.3 O that men and women had their eyes enlightened and judgements convinced of that woeful plight in which naturally they are Oh! were their hearts throughly loaden therewith surely they would not long content themselves therein The truth is most in the world are spiritually blind and cannot discerne their owne misery and spiritually dead too 1. Iohn 5.19 Eph. 2.1.5 and cannot be affected with it The Holy Ghost saith thus of them Eph. 4.18 19. They walke in the vanity of their mind having their understanding darkned and are strangers from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts who being past feeling have given themselves unto wantonnesse to worke all uncleanesse with greedinesse Such as these are so farre from having any right to Gods promises that for the present they are under the curse and consequently in the â—â—nt of all the plagues threatnings in Gods Book Deut. 27. ult Deut. 28.56.63 Wherefore let not such as yet challenge any comfort from the Promises but let them after labour to the uttermost of their power in using all good meanes to bee made capable and fit subjects for mercy revealed in the Promises Is it not pitty so many sweet Promises of life should bee made and yet thou dye and bee damned notwithstanding Pray fervently to God that hee would touch thy heart with griefe for all thy sins and worke in thee a cleare apprehension of thine owne unworthinesse Acts 2.37 Luke 15.19 and that he would bestow faith on thee that by it thou maist bee able to goe wholly out of thy selfe to God through Iesus Christ for salvation Wee having departed from him who is the God of all grace and consolation are fallen into an estate of all basenesse desolation and misery and cannot bee recovered againe into the former estate of spirituall life and happinesse unlesse wee be brought againe to him who is the foundation of life and happinesse even the living God and brought to him we can never be but by Faith Heb. 11.6 which is nothing else but the going out of the soule to God through Christ to fetch a new principle of spirituall life and grace which once in Adam we lost and now need The which worke of faith is not wrought but by the promises and being wrought in our hearts gives us a most sure right and interest unto all the promises of Grace Rom. 10.8.17 Heb. 6.12.17 Thus we through faith and patience are said to inherit the promises therefore we are called the heires of the promise the promises are as well ours who truly believe as heaven it selfe is Now by these heavenly Promises God our Father hath engaged himselfe as a debtour to us his poore children for all things needfull to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1.3 untill that blessed time comes when wee shall be put into full possession of all things which wee have now only in promise at that time Faith shall end in fruition and Promises in performance As the soule is the life of the body and faith the life of the soule so are Gods promises the life of faith For from whence hath faith his
be a dew to us it will quickly make us fruitfull we shall bring forth fruits glorious to the sight as the Lilly and as the Olive tree and the sent of our graces shall be a sweet smelling savor as the trees of Lebanon Therefore though thou feelest thy heart yet barrē thou hast used means long yet art not fruitfull still use the meanes and beleeve for therein did Abraham glorifie God that hee beleeved above hope that Sarah should have a Son whose wombe was barren and by yeeres past child-bearing so though thine heart remaine barren in thine own feeling after long use of meanes yet still follow seeking in the meanes and believe for we have as sure promises and as faithfull a performer as Abraham had Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever Iohn 7.38 He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life THE XVIII LEGACY If thou wantest holinesse WHen thou art troubled for want of holinesse apply Exod. 19.6 You shall be an haly nation Deut. 28.9 And the Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himselfe The Lord will make thee holy therefore Sinne nor Satan nor wicked men cannot hinder thy holinesse for he that makes thee holy is stronger then all and doth what he will 1. Thess 5.23.24 The God of peace shall sanctify you throughout in spirit soule and body Faithfull is he which calleth you which will also doe it THE XIX LEGACY When thou canst not offer up any sacrifice WHen thou canst not offer up any sacrifice to God of prayer or prayse or thy selfe in sacrifice apply Exod. 19.6 Yee shall bee unto mee a Kingdome of Priests God promiseth that wee shall be Priests that is such as shall offer up sacrifice unto him for that was the Priests office Therefore when thou findest thy selfe unable to pray or praise the Lord or to offer up thy selfe to God soule and body strive in faith grounded on the promises that he which commanded hath also promised to make us able to doe it for he hath said We shall be Priests Malac. 1.11 In every place incense shall bee off ered to my name and a pure offering which is spoken of the believing Gentiles therefore thou being one of thē shalt be able to offer up pure offerings THE XX. LEGACY When thou feelest but litle grace WHen thou feelest litle grace knowledge faith love repentance all very litle apply Iob. 8.7 Though thy beginning be small yet thy later end shall greatly increase Matth. 13.12 Whosoever hath to him shall bee given and hee shall have abundance Therefore let not thy small beginnings discourage thee but if thou canst prove thou hast some grace then joyne faith and diligence together and they will quickly make thee rich THE XXI LEGACY When all thy graces are weake WHen thou findest all thy graces very weake and no strength to performe any spirituall duty either prayer or fasting or any other duty then apply Psal 29.11 The Lord will give strength unto his people Isai 40.29.31 He giveth power to the faint and to them which have no might hee increaseth strength They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint When thou feelest by selfe faint stay thy selfe with this promise Hee gives strength to him that fainteth When thou feelest no power apply to him that hath no strength he increaseth power If thou hast lost thy power then stay thy selfe with this they shall renew their strength If thou art ready to give over through wearinesse then gather strength from this They shall run and not bee weary and walke and not bee faint And if thou findest not these promises performed unto thee either thou endeavourest not to keepe the conditions or else thou art negligent in searching out the promises or cold in suing for them the Lord will bee sought to for the performance Isai 41.10 I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse Isa 26.4 Trust thou in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Iehovah is everlasting strength To know there is strength in the Lord is no comfort unlesse we know it shall be for us Therefore since it is given for a comfort it must include this promise Thus the Lords strength for evermore shall bee imployed for our good Therefore when we want for either soule or body we must fixe our confidence in him who will not faile us if we seek unto him THE XXII LEGACY When thy heart is dryed for want of Grace WHen thou feelest thy heart dryed up for want of grace that thou canst not send forth any water of grace in thy thoughts words and works apply Isa 44.3 I will powre water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the drye ground Isai 58.11 The Lord shall satisfy thy soule in drought and make fat thy bones and thou halt bee like a watred garden and like a spring of waters whose waters faile not Ier. 17.8 He shall be as a tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall bee green and shall not bee carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit Ier. 31.12 Their soule shall beee as a watred garden Iam. 4.6 God giveth grace unto the humble Isa 35.6 7. In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert And the parched ground shall be come a poole and the thirsty land springs of waters That is the most barren heart shall abound with grace according to that promise Ioh. 7.38 Out of their bellies shall flow rivers of the waters of Life Isa 41.17 18. When the poore and needy seeke water and there is none and their tongues faile for thirst I the Lord will heare them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will open rivers in high places and fountaines in the midst of the valleyes I will make the wildernesse a poole of water and the drye land springs of water I will plant in the wildernesse the Cedar the Shittah-tree and the Mirtle and the O live tree I will set in the desart the Firre-tree and the Pine and the Box tree together So now though thou feelest thy heart barren know that God will bee thy Gardiner to thy barren heart to make pooles and plant pleasant grapes of graces therefore seeing he taketh upon himselfe the worke feare not the badnesse of the ground for hee will make it good as a fruitfull garden THE XXIII LEGACY If thou wantest the spirit IF thou feelest thou wantest the spirit of God apply Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you Luke 11.13 If yee then being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give
the holy Spirit to them that aske him Ioel 2.28.29 I will powre out my Spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants upon th ehandmaids in those dayes will I powre out my spirit Ioh. 14.16.17 And I will pray the Father and hee shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth hee dwelleth in you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortlesse I will come to you When thou canst not pray thy selfe stay thy selfe on these prayers that Christ hath prayed to the Father to give the Spirit and he was heard in all hee prayed for therefore thou maist laime it though thy prayers bee but weake THE XXIV LEGACY If looking on Gods love thou canst not love God againe WHen thou lookest upon the great love of God unto thee and canst not finde thine heart inlarged in loving God again apply this promise Deut. 30.9 I will circumcise thine heart that thou maist love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule THE XXV LEGACY If thou canst not bring thine heart to delight in the Lord. WHen thou canst not bring thine heart to delight in the Lord apply Isai 41.16 Thou shalt rejoyce in the Lord and glory in the holy one of Israel Psal 89.16 In thy name shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted Iob. 22.26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty Psal 33.21 For our heart shall rejoyce in him because we have trusted in his holy name When thou seest cause of rejoycing in the Lord and yet canst not move thine affections apply They shall rejoyce in him If through many troubles and temptations thou findest thy joyes often interrupted apply they shall rejoyce continually in thy name THE XXVI LEGACY If thou feelest not Gods feare in thine heart WHen wee feele not the feare of God in our hearts apply Ier. 33.40 I will put my feare in their hearts If we would have a reverent feare of God when we performe any holy duty or at other times as thou feelest thy need so urge the Lord with this his promise for he delights to be sued to upon his promise by his servants Ezek. 36.37 I will yet for this bee inquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them THE XXVII LEGACY If thine heart will not praise the Lord. VVHen thou canst not bring thine heart to praise the Lord apply Isa 43.21 This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Ioel 2.26 Yee shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God Psal 22.29 They shall praise the Lord that seeke him When thou seest what great things God hath done for thee and findest not thy self able to set forth his praise apply They shall set forth my praise When thou findest thy ingratefull heart not affected with the mercies thou enjoyest so as they stirre thee not up to praise the Lord apply Hee shall eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord. THE XXVIII LEGACY If thou wantest wisdome WHen thou seest thy want of wisdome makes thee not walke like a Christian so unblameably as thou ought apply Iam. 1.5 If any of you lacke wisdome let him aske of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him When thou findest thou want'st wisdome to improve thine afflictions to the best advantage or for the ordering of thy actions occafions and course of life to Gods glory and the good of others and thy selfe then faile not to aske wisdome and doubt not of the obtaining of it THE XXIX LEGACY If thou canst not understand Gods voyce VVHen thou canst not understand the voyce of God in his word or works not knowing what to learne by them apply Isa 35.5 The eares of the deafe shall bee unstopped That is those that were deafe not understanding any thing shall be made to heare that is to understand Ioh. 10.16 Other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall heare my voyce Which is a promise to the Gentiles that they shall understand the voyce of God THE XXX LEGACY If thou caust not see into the mysteries of the Gospell IF thou canst not see into the divine my steries of the Gospel apply Isa 35.5 The eyes of the blind shall be opened Isa 42.7 Hee shall open thee eyes of the blind Luk. 4.18 Hee hath sent me to recover sight to the blind These places are what Christ will doe to his people therefore wee need not feare our disease seeing Christ is our Physitian If every creature that for which it was ordained then hee will surely doe that which hee was sent to doe of the Father to give sight to the blind THE XXXI LEGACY If thou seest a good way and hast no power to walke in it WHen thou seest a good way and hast no power to walke in it or art to performe any duty ordinary or extraordinary and feelest no strength to walke in that way apply Ezek. 36.72 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them When thou lookest at the greatnesse of the duty which God commands looke also at the largenesse of his promises for the keeping of them and then thou wilt not be discouraged at it What matters it what hee commands seeing we have his promise If thou fearest the strictnesse of thy wayes that thou shalt not bee able to walke in them though thou step into them sometimes strengthen thy faith in this promise I will give thee my Spirit to cause thee to walke in my wayes Can Sinne or Satan then resist Nay surely the Spirit is stronger and greater is hee that is in us then those that are against us And when wee see great duties which God commands and feare wee shall want strength to doe them apply Hee hath said You shall keep my judgements and doe them Isai 40.31 They shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not bee faint That is Those which of themselves could not step one step shall be able to runne swiftly in the wayes of God THE XXXII LEGACY If thou wantest memory VVHen thou wantest memory to remember the Word of God apply Ioh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name hee shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you THE XXXIII LEGACY When thou seest thine ignorance VVHen thou seest thine ignorance and fearest thou shalt not bee able to glorify God as thou mightest if thou had'st more knowledge stirre up thy selfe to desire and apply Ier. 31.33.34 Thus saith the Lord I
efficacy but because it layes hold on the free promises but from whence have the promises their strength even from the constant nature of Iehovah 2. Cor. 1.20 who alwayes gives a being to his word Desirest thou faith then take notice of Gods promises wouldst thou have thy faith like the light in the Lords Sanctuary never to goe out then acquaint thy selfe with Gods Promises know them well meditate on them conferre about them let them be continually in thy mind memory heart and tongue Satan laboureth in nothing more then to keepe us in unbeliefe especially of particular promises for he knowes if we believe them we shall in all things have the victory come before God with boldnesse carry peace in our owne bosomes to our graves and doe and suffer any thing for God 1. Iohn 5. Eph. 2. Rom. 15. Heb. 11. Oh the abundance of sweet cordiall comfort which all humble beleevers draw by faith out of every promise Now beloved these pretious Promises our breasts of consolation whereupon our happinesse so much depends lye hid in the holy Scripture as veines of gold in the earth Isa 66.11.12 Surely those that search those mynes to bring to light these treasures are worthy of great commēdation Wherefore I doubt not but the good paines of this blessed and faithfull servant of God will find good entertainment of all the children of the promises that hope to entertaine them who hath with great care and good evidence of spirituall understanding discovered and compiled the variety and use of all the promises in matters temporall spirituall and eternall So that here is a medicine for every disease and a salve for every sore Read them carefully and ponder them seriously and apply them faithfully And I beseech the good Lord who is the Authour of them that by his holy Spirit he would make them powerfull and effectuall in us Consider what is said and the Lord give us understanding in all things 2. Tim. 2.7 RVLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING OF PROMISES WHatsoever Promise is made in generall to all the faithfull every one must particularly apply it to themselves as Gen. 3.14 the Messiah is promised to all every one must apply him to themselves 2. Whatsoever promise is made to any one of the faithfull if there be not some particular reason which tyes it to his person as was to Abraham for a sonne and his seed to inherit the land of Canaan every child of God hath right to it as you may see Ioshuah 1.5 I will not faile thee nor forsake thee This every one may apply to themselves as wee know the Holy Ghost applyes it Heb. 13.5 For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Which teacheth us to doe the like in all the rest of the promises 3. Vnder temporall promise to the Iewes are set forth the excellent promised graces which God will give to his people after the comming of Christ Ezek. 34.25 26 27. 4. When wee read the conditions of the promises they are not like to the duties of the Law made to the perfect fulfillers of them the promises are Evangelicall made to those which endeavour to keep them and the maine conditions of them are saith 5. In all the promises for increase of grace or meanes of grace or for any earthly things we must know wee shall have them so farre performed to us as the Lord seeth good for us 6. In our weak endeavourings to keep the promises we must believe the performance to us in by and through Christ In whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen that is as I conceive confirmed and made good to us in him 2. Cor. 1.20 when we can see nothing in our selves why they should be performed to us even then we are to claime them for Christs sake if thou be in Christ for if thou bee not in him no promise belongs to thee but that threatnings and judgements are thy portion and nothing else can wee claime as our due Sorrow weeping and bowling is that which God requireth of us and not laying hand upon the comfortable promises till wee hunger after Christ which God grant wee may doe more and more till we come to be satisfied with his image in the life to come Psal 17.15 THE FIRST LEGACY These promises I have observed for spirituall things FIRST ABOVT SINNE If we find nothing in our selves that may move God WHen we find nothing in our selves that might move the Lord to have mercy then apply these promises Isai 43.25 I even I am be that blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Isai 44.22 I have blotted out as a thicke cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sinnes returne unto me for I have redeemed thee Ier. 31.34 I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sinne no more Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle cleane water upon you and yee shall bee cleane from all your filthiness Isai 57.18 I have seene his wayes and will heale him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners These promises are free made by the Lord not for any thing that is in man as you may see in Isaiah 43. from the 22. verse to the 25. for the Lord saith They had not called upon him but wearied the Lord brought him no offering yea wearied him with their sinnes and yet in the 25. verse hee saith for his owne sake hee would forgive their sinnes These promises wee shall have alwayes need of as at our conversion so afterwards many times wee shall in our owne feeling finde nothing in our selves to perswade us of the pardon of our sinnes then wee must flye to these free promises When thou seest nothing in thy selfe why the Lord should pardon thy sinnes and therefore doubt'st of the pardon of them apply I am he that puts away thy sinnes for mine owne sake When thy sinnes rise up as a cloud that thou canst see nothing but them apply I have put away thy sinnes as a cloud When thou fearest the multitude of thy sinnes apply You shall be cleane from all your sinnes THE II. LEGACY If we feare God will remember our sinnes to punish them When wee fear God will remember our sinnes before committed to punish us for them apply Ier. 31.34 I will remember his sinne no more Ezek. 18.22 His transgressions which hee hath committed shall not be mentioned to him but in the righteousnesse which hee hath done shall he live Ezek. 33.16 None of his sinnes that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him THE III. LEGACY If often sinning cause thee doubt of pardon WHen thine often sinning causeth thee to feare that God will not pardon thee apply Iob. 33.27.28.29 He looketh upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profiteth me not hee will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light Loe all these